The First Domino Falls

The First Domino Falls: Kon Knueppel Declares for the NBA Draft, Ending His Duke Chapter After One Shining Season

Durham’s off season officially begins with a bang.

On the heels of a Final Four run that reignited the spirit of Duke Basketball, freshman guard Kon Knueppel—one of the team’s breakout stars—has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, becoming the first major departure from Jon Scheyer’s 2024–25 roster.

The announcement, while expected, still lands with emotional weight.

Knueppel’s lone season in Durham was a dazzling display of poise, precision, and pure shot-making. Averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, the 6’6″ sharpshooter became a staple in Duke’s rotation and a fan favorite for his fearless mentality and quiet confidence. His 41% shooting from three added a crucial floor-spacing element that helped Duke steamroll its way through the ACC and into the Final Four.

But beyond the numbers, Knueppel delivered in the moments that mattered. He was the ACC Tournament MVP, torching opponents with clutch buckets and composed play. In March Madness, while all eyes were on Cooper Flagg, it was Knueppel’s timely scoring and perimeter defense that often turned the tide.

Now, he’s headed to the league—and he’s not sneaking in the back door.

Knueppel is expected to be a top-10 pick, with many draft analysts locking him in as a lottery selection due to his elite shooting, size, and high basketball IQ. In a draft class light on sure things, his polish and readiness have stood out.

This move also marks the first in what promises to be a whirlwind offseason for Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils. With Cooper Flagg also expected to declare, and veterans like Jeremy Roach and Sean Stewart already moving on, Duke’s roster will undergo yet another dramatic transformation.

Still, amid the uncertainty, fans are taking a moment to appreciate what Knueppel brought in just one year.

Thank you, Kon. You embodied the best of the Brotherhood.

Now go light it up at the next level.

#BlueDevilNation #DukeInTheNBA #ThankYou7

Is Duke Basketball Losing Its Edge? Post-Final Four Departures, Transfer Drama, and What’s Next for the Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils, long synonymous with excellence in college basketball, delivered a thrilling and dominant 2024–25 season that reignited belief in the program. Under third-year head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke returned to the Final Four for the first time in a decade and seemed poised to recapture its place atop the college basketball world.

But less than three weeks after that emotional run ended, Duke is already undergoing one of the most dramatic offseasons in recent memory—defined by major departures, a shifting recruiting identity, and growing pressure on Scheyer to maintain the momentum.

A Final Four Run Rekindles Hope

Duke finished the season 31–7 overall and 19–1 in the ACC, winning both the regular-season title and the ACC Tournament. Freshman wing Kon Knueppel emerged as a surprise star in March, earning ACC Tournament MVP after powering Duke to a championship win over Louisville.

But the season belonged to Cooper Flagg. The No. 1 recruit in the nation not only lived up to the hype but shattered it, averaging over 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He swept ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, and was a Naismith finalist. His standout performances in the NCAA Tournament—including a 30-point night against Arizona and 27 points against Alabama—carried Duke to the Final Four, where they fell just short in a 70–67 loss to Houston.

Though the Blue Devils came up just shy of a title, the season was widely seen as a turning point for Jon Scheyer—his first clear breakthrough on the national stage.

But Now… Major Departures Rock the Roster

Duke’s Final Four glow quickly gave way to the harsh reality of offseason attrition.

• Cooper Flagg is expected to declare for the NBA Draft, where he’s the likely No. 1 overall pick. His exit was anticipated, but still leaves a massive void in talent and leadership.
• Veteran guard Jeremy Roach entered the transfer portal and has since committed to Baylor for his final collegiate season, ending a storied Duke career that spanned four years.
• Sean Stewart (Ohio State) and TJ Power (Virginia) also transferred, seeking more prominent roles elsewhere.
• Sion James, a key defensive presence brought in from Tulane, exhausted his eligibility and is pursuing a professional career.

These exits have stripped the team of its veteran core and raised questions about the program’s ability to retain players—especially those who aren’t NBA-bound but still seek new opportunities elsewhere.

Recruiting Wins and Misses

While departures dominated headlines, Duke’s 2025 recruiting class remains elite:

• Cameron and Cayden Boozer, sons of Duke legend Carlos Boozer, headline the incoming group. Cameron, a powerful and skilled forward, is widely viewed as a future one-and-done lottery pick.
• Shelton Henderson, a dynamic five-star small forward from Texas, adds athleticism and versatility on the wing.
• Returners like Caleb Foster and Jared McCain’s younger brother, Jaylen McCain, are also expected to have expanded roles.

However, Duke hasn’t been able to fully capitalize in the transfer portal. They missed on several key targets, including Xavien Lee (Princeton) and Cedric Coward (Washington State), who are headed to other power programs. These near-misses highlight the growing challenge of balancing elite high school recruiting with the aggressive portal strategies employed by competitors like Kentucky and UConn.

Scheyer’s Strategy: Youth Meets Experience?

Jon Scheyer’s approach appears clear: build the team around elite freshmen, sprinkled with a few key veteran additions. But as the rest of college basketball leans heavily into the portal for proven experience, Duke’s reliance on high school stars could prove risky without veteran glue guys.

With no high-impact transfers yet secured and no return of key veterans, the pressure is now on Scheyer to find balance—quickly.

Conclusion: Crossroads or Comeback?

Duke basketball is walking a fine line. On one hand, a Final Four run, the emergence of Jon Scheyer’s coaching identity, and another top-ranked recruiting class point to a future as bright as ever. On the other, roster turnover, transfer portal misses, and rising competition raise valid concerns about whether the Blue Devils can sustain this level of success year over year.

Scheyer’s challenge is not only to replace superstar talent, but to reinvent Duke’s approach to modern roster-building—and do so without losing the identity that made the program iconic.

The 2025–26 season may be the defining year of the Jon Scheyer era.